Русская версияNATO ministers are expected to pledge support for Georgia and
criticize Russian intervention into the country at the emergency
meeting, which is taking place in the middle of Europe's
traditional summer break.
Just before the ministered gathered in Brussels on Tuesday, Aug.
19, Russian and Georgian forces exchanged prisoners in an
exhibition of goodwill, news agencies reported.
"The process went smoothly," Georgian National Security Council
secretary Kakha Lomaia said, according to Reuters.
"It was mediated
by the French ambassador.
The NATO meeting, called by the United States, comes amid
warnings from Washington that the Kremlin risks compromising its
role in Western institutions such as NATO, the World Trade
Organization and the Group of Eight (G8) because of its military
activity in Georgia and in the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia.
"In recent years, Russia has sought to integrate into the
diplomatic, political, economic and security structures of the 21st
century," US President George W. Bush said last
week. "Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking
actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of
those institutions."
A NATO spokeswoman said ministers would deliver "a very clear
message of solidarity to Georgia."
Meanwhile, reports regarding Russia's military activity in Georgia
were contradictory. US officials said Monday that Russia had moved
short-range missile launchers into South Ossetia since fighting
ceased there last week and that there was no sign of a significant
pullback of its troops from Georgia.
Russia's defense ministry, however, on Monday announced the start
of its withdrawal. The Russian NATO envoy, Dmitry Rogozin, on
Tuesday told France's Inter radio station that troops were pulling
out of Georgia.
Russia angered by NATO criticisms
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Russia's push into Georgia's core territory has outraged the US and
Britain
Rogozin also reacted angrily to comments by NATO Secretary General
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who described Russia's actions in
Georgia as "excessive" and "disproportionate."
De Hoop Scheffer's comments were "utterly intolerable," Dmitry
Rogozin said in an interview with the official government newspaper
.
"These are not credible allegations, especially coming from the
head of an organization like NATO, which has itself used not just
disproportionate force, but force against civilian targets and the
civilian population, especially in its conflict with Yugoslavia in
1999," the envoy added in an interview which was published on
Monday.
NATO-Russia Council soon a thing of the past?
One obvious repercussion may well involve the NATO-Russia Council
(NRC).
Established at a summit in Rome in 2002, the NRC has often been
defended by NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as "a
valuable forum for dialogue to resolve complex political issues."
The NRC has also led NATO and Russia to cooperate on a practical
level, such as with joint military exercises. But that cooperation
looks increasingly at risk.
Joint US, Canadian and Russian military exercises scheduled for
Aug. 20 have already been cancelled -- and so have joint naval
exercises between Russia, the US, Britain and France which were
originally due to take place on Friday.
Poland under pressure
Meanwhile, one of the most immediate results of Russia's
intervention has been to convince reluctant Poland of the merits of
hosting US missile interceptors on its territory. The US missile
shield, which also involves the construction of a tracking radar in
the Czech Republic, is strongly opposed in Moscow.
Last week, Russian Army generals menacingly told Poland that the
hosting of US missiles would turn it into a potential military
target.
The last NRC meeting was held in June. On that occasion, the
NATO chief praised Russia for its cooperation with the
alliance in spite of serious disagreements.
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has riled Moscow by agreeing to
host a US missile shield
Last week, a request by Russia for an extraordinary meeting to
discuss the Georgia conflict was turned down, with the alliance's
chief saying more time was needed to prepare it.
And now, the US ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker, said
Tuesday's talks in Brussels will have NATO allies "consider"
freezing, if not abandoning the NRC altogether.
"We will talk amongst ourselves about NATO's relationship with
Russia," Volker said in an interview with German television.
Drastic steps unlikely
Noting that several member states which were once under Soviet
control had expressed strong anti-Russian sentiments, Gates said
that since NATO is built on consensus, "all opinions must be taken
into account."
However, few analysts expect Tuesday's meeting to come up with any
drastic decisions.
They argue that while Eastern European countries may push for a
strong response to Russia's renewed military assertiveness, Western
powers such as France and Germany will continue to favor a more
conciliatory approach, if only to protect their commercial
interests.
Speaking at an emergency EU meeting last week, German Foreign
Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier argued that the best strategy for
the West would be to keep its channels of communication with Moscow
open, rather than indulge in "one-sided condemnations."
(Deutsche Welle)
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